Apparatus for making variably bulked yarn



Nov. 21, 1967 H. A. PRO'SCENO ETAL APPARATUS FOR MAKING VARIABLY BULKED YARN Filed sept. lo, 1965 2 Sheets- Sheet vl TTOR/VE'Y NOV-21,1967 H.A.PROSCENO ETKAL 3,353,241

APPARATUS FOR MAKING VAHIABLY BULKED YARN Filed Sept. l0, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wf. i 60 Y l e2 lv INVENTORS HARRY A. PROJ'CE/VO l//C'T'OE HJ'OHEADE BYJTEVE 'ATTORNEY United States Patent Olrilice Patented Nov. 21, 1967 Joseph Bancroft 8: Sons Co., Rockford, Wilmington,

Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 486,393 10 Claims. (Cl. 28-1) ABSTRACT @F THE DISCLOSURE A stuffer crimper having a crimping tube and a pair of feed rolls between which yarn is fed for crimping. The yarn is traversed along the bite of the feed rolls and the rolls are grooved or biased so that the slippage varies as the yarn is traversed, thereby producing a corresponding variation in crimp level or bulk of the yarn.

. This invention relates to stufer crimped yarn and more particularly to apparatus for making a stuffer crimped yarn having random variations in crimp characteristics.

An object is to provide apparatus of the above type having novel and improved characterics.

In accordance with the invention, improved means is provided for varying in a random manner the feed of the yarn by the feed rolls into the crimping chamber of a stutfer crimper.

In one embodiment wherein the crimping chamber is of substantial width and the feed rolls are correspondingly long, one of the feed rolls is formed with a plurality of peripheral grooves which may be randomly spaced along` the roll and may be of various widths. As the yarn is fed to the r-olls, it is traversed axially of the rolls so that portions of the yarn are gripped by the high portions ofthe zfeed roll and other portions are gripped by the grooved portions. The feeding pressure on the yarn thus varies from a maximum .to a minimum as the yarn traverses the high portions and the low portions of the roll with a consequent variation in feed characteristics and a corresponding variation in crimp characteristics.

In order to provide a further randomness in the lcrimp the rate of traverse may also be varied. This is shown as effected by producing a random variation in the speed of the traverse motor as by at least one cam actuated potentiometer.

In another embodiment the variation in feed characteristicsis obtained by providing more clearance between the feed rolls at one end and traversing the yarn along the path of variable clearance. v

In a further embodiment means is provided to vary i the feed roll pressure in a random manner.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain specific embodirnents have been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a side elevation of one type of apparatus for carrying out the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section taken on the line 2 2 of I gated, substantially rectangular cross-section and having heating rods 12 for heating the chamber to the temperature desired for setting the crimp. Only the lower portion of the block 10 has been shown, as the remainder of the apparatus is of standard construction and includes means for cooling the mass of crimped yarn in the crimping chamber for setting the crimp, for extracting the crimped yarn from the core at the discharge end of the chamber and for winding the yarn onto a package.

A pair of feed rolls 14 and 15 are provided for feeding the yarn 16 into one end of the chamber 11 to be folded over and crimped against the mass of previously crimped yarn held compacted in said chamber. The feed roll 14 is mounted on a shaft 17 journalled in suitable bearings in the block 10. The feed roll 15 is mounted on a shaft 18 journalled in arms 21, pivoted at 22. and spring pressed by an adjustable spring 23 into feeding engagement with the yarn 16 as the yarn passes through the bite of the rolls. The shafts 17 and 18 are geared together for operation in unison and are driven by a suitable motor, not shown.

The feed roll 15 is shown as having a plurality of axially spaced, circumferential grooves 25 which are of different axial widths and are variously spaced along the roll. These grooves have a radial depth of the order of a few thousandths of an inch, the depth depending upon the denier of the yarn being fed and the grooves may be of different depths, if desired. The grooves are spaced apart by high portions 26 of the roll and are adapted to provide reduced feed pressure on the yarn when the yarn registers with a groove so that the feed characteristics vary as the yarn traverses axially of the bite of the rolls. While a plurality of grooves have been shown, the number and spacing may be varied and a single groove may be used in some instances, depending upon the desired frequency of crimp variation.

It has been found that the crimp characteristics vary according to the variation in pressure of the feed rolls. This variation in crimp characteristics is believed to be due to several factors. A higher pressure ten-ds to increase the yarn temperature, to distort the cross-sectional shape of the yarn, to control the location and the angular position of the yarn as it emerges from the bite of the feed rolls and to decrease the yarn slippage. All of these factors affect the resulting crimp characteristics.

A trumpet 31 is `disposed to guide the yarn into the bite of the feed rolls. The trumpet 31 is mounted on a carriage 32 which slides on a xed rail 33 and carries a cam follower 34 riding in a closed helical cam groove 35 in a cam roll 36. The cam roll is mounted on a shaft 37 whichl is driven by a belt 41 from the shaft 42 of a motor Themotor `43 is of the variable speed type and is connected to be controlled by a pair of potentiometers 4S and 45a, respectively, having a coarse adjustment arm 46 and a linev adjustment arm 47. The arm 46 is connected by a linkV 51 to a cam follower 52 actuated by a cam 53 on a motor shaft 42a driven at a constant speed by a motor 43a. The arm 47 is connected by a link 55 having a cam follower 56 actuated by a cam 57 on a shaft 58 which is .E driven by a belt 59 from the motor shaft 42a. The cams 53 and 57 have a ratio other than 1 to 1 so as to a-void synchronization between the movements of the arms 46 and 47. The potentiometers 4S and 45a are connected in series to control the speed of the motor 43. Since the speed of the motor 43 is determined 1by the combined movements of the arms 46 and 47 which are connected to operate out of synchronism and the drive of the traverse guide is not in synchronism with that of either of these arms, there is no possibility of producing a repeat pattern and a random variation in crimp characteristics is assured. This randomness is due to the spacing and width 3 of the grooves and to the dierent rates at which the trumpet traverses each groove as it advances along the bite of the feed rolls. It is to be understood that either or both of the feed rolls 4may be grooved and that the grooves may be of different depths to provide different feed roll pressures.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the two feed rolls 14a and 15a are shown as provided with smooth, ungrooved surfaces but are mounted at slight relative angles to provide a variable clearance along the bite of the rolls. The difference in clearance may be of the order of a few thousandths of an inch as 'in the case of the grooves 25 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The feed rolls of FIG. 3 are to replace the feed rolls 14 an-d 15 of FIGS. l and 2, the remaining apparatus being the same.

In this embodiment a random variation in pressure is produced as the trumpet traverses the bite of the rolls and the variation is continuous as the yarn is fed along the axis of the rolls.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the crimper is shown as comprising a block 60 bored to receive a crimping tube l61 and carrying heating elements 62. A pair of feed rolls 63 and 64 are disposed to feed a yarn 65 into the end of the tube 61, for crimping therein. The feed roll 63 is mounted on a driven shaft 67 journalled in bearings in the block 60. The feed roll 64 is mounted on a shaft 68 journalled in arms 69 which are pivoted to the block 60 to permit variation and adjustment of the feeding pressure. The shafts 67 and 68 are geared together for operation in unison and are driven by a motor 66.

The yarn 65 is fed from a cone 70 through a tension gate 71 and guide trumpet 72 to the bite of the feed rolls 63 and 64 and the crimped yarn 73 is withdrawn from the discharge end of the crimping tube 61 to a winder, not shown.

In `or-der to vary the feeding pressure intermittently a cord 77 is connected to the arrn 69 which extends in a direction to pull the roll 64 into pressure engagement with the roll 63 thence over guide rolls 78 and 79 to a turnbuckle 80 for adjustment purposes and to a spring scale 81. The spring scale 81 has a plunger `82 connected to a crank arm 85 which is mounted on a shaft r86 of a motor 87. The arrangement is such that rotation of the crank arm 35 causes reciprocation of the plunger 82 which varies the tension on the cord 77 and a corresponding variation in the feed pressure exerted by the roll 64. This variation in feed pressure causes a variable slippage of the yarn 65 in the bite of the 4feed rolls 63 and 64 which continuously changes the rate of feed of the yarn into the cirmping tube 61. The crimp characteristics are thus varied in a manner to form a thick and thin bulked yarn.

The nature of the crimp can be varied by adjusting the turnbuckle 80 and the pressure can .be checked by the reading of the scale 81. Means may also be provided t0 vary the speed of the motor 87 in a manner similar to the variable control of the motor 43 in FIGS. 1 and 2, if a more random effect is desired.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus `for producing novelty crimped yarn of the thick and thin type which comprises a stuier crimper having a crimping chamber of elongated cross-section, a pair of feed rolls having a bite disposed to feed said yarn into said crimping chamber and having their axes parallel to the longer side of said chamber, a traversing guide disposed to traverse the yarn along said bite, at least one of said rolls having at least one annular recess adapted to vary the feeding pressure at the bite of said rolls' aS the yarn is traversed thereover.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said roll has a plurality of recesses of different widths. n

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said roll has a plurality of recesses which are variably spaced along said roll.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a rotat ing cam roll is vprovided to reciprocate said traversing guide, a motor is connected to drive said cam roll and means is pro-vided to vary periodically the speed of said motor for thereby varyin-g the rate of Atraverse of said guide.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which potentiometer means is connected to vary the speed of said motor and motor driven cam means is connected to vary said potentiometer means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said potentiometer means includes a pair of adjusting members and said cam means is adapted to adjust said members in a non-synchronous manner suited to avoid a repeat pattern.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which one of said members is adapted to provide a coarse adjustment and the other of said members is adapted to produce a ne adjustment of said potentiometer means.

8. Apparatus for producing novelty crimped yarn of the thick and thin type which comprises a stuffer crimper having a crimping cham-ber of elongated cross-section, a pair of `feed rolls having a bite disposed to feed said yarn into saidcrimping chamber and having their axes parallel to the longer side of said chamber, a traversing guide disposed to traverse the yarn along said bite, said rolls being angularly displaced to lprovide a bite having a variable clearance adapted to produce a corresponding7 variation in feed pressure as the yarn traverses said bite.

9. Apparatus for making a novelty crimped yarn of the thick and thin type which comprises a stuifer crimper having a crimping chamber, -a pair of feed rolls disposed to feed said yarn into said chamber for crimping, means mounting one of said rolls for adjustment for varying the feeding pressure, and control means connected to continuously vary said adjustment, said control means including a link connected to control said pressure, a rotating arm connected to continuously vary the pressure exerted by said link, and means continuously rotating said arm.

10. Apparatus for producing novelty crimped yarn 0f the thick and thin type which comprises a stuifer crimper having a crimping chamber, a pair of feed rolls disposed to feed the yarn into said chamber for crimping therein, means controlling the feed pressure of said rolls on said yarn and means independent of the quantity of yarn in said chamber connected to actuate said last means in a continuous and repeated cycle for thereby varying the rate of feed of the yarn into said chamber and the consequent crimp characteristics in a similar cycle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,734,229 2/1956 Shattuck 19-66 2,856,640 10/1958 Klein 19-66 3,000,060 9/1961 Shattuck et al. 19-66 3,121,935 2/1964 Shattuck et al. 28-1 3,225,415 12/1965 Storeker et al. 28-1 3,217,376 11/1965 Irwin et al. 28-1 3,248,770 5/1966 Shattuck et al 28-1 LOUIS K. RIMRODT, Primary Examiner. MERVIN STEIN, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NOVELTY CRIMPED YARN OF THE THICK AND THIN TYPE WHICH COMPRISES A STUFFER CRIMPER HAVING A CRIMPING CHAMBER OF ELONGATED CROSS-SECTION, A PAIR OF FEED ROLLS HAVING A BITE DISPOSED TO FEED SAID YARN INTO SAID CRIMPING CHAMBER AND HAVING THEIR AXES PARALLEL TO THE LONGER SIDE OF SAID CHAMBER, A TRAVERSING GUIDE DISPOSED TO TRAVERSE THE YARN ALONG SAID BITE, AT LEAST ONE 